By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission started discussing the infrastructure and future needs portion of the city Short-Term Tourism plan at Wednesday’s meeting.
The main subjects were restrooms and signage.
In terms of restrooms, the question was raised whether there are enough to accommodate the number of expected visitors next summer, and if more need to be placed around town.
Commissioner Katie Riley said that planning for the facilities should done be as soon as possible, as supply chain holdups caused by the pandemic could lead the process of acquiring the facilities to take longer than usual.
Planning Director Amy Ainslie said downtown parking spaces are possible locations for portable toilet units. Her comment came in response to a suggestion from Assembly liaison Thor Christianson, who reasoned that port-a-potties could be placed in the middle of the street, since Lincoln Street is likely to be shut down on days with more than 3,000 cruise passengers in town.
But placing port-a-potties in the middle of Lincoln Street would create the problem of remving them on days the street is open to vehicular traffic.
Others suggested making existing restrooms more visible to tourists, including those located in businesses and other places.
Commissioner Darrell Windsor proposed offering a subsidy to businesses that allow tourists to use their bathrooms.
From the public, Sandy McClung said that such a subsidy could help pay for janitorial services and supplies such as toilet paper.
McClung said it’s unlikely that a subsidy program would lead businesses to expand their restroom facilities, but that if the city were to help stock and clean existing restrooms, more businesses might make their restrooms available to the public.
Still others said that signage directing people to public restrooms such as those in Crescent Park and at the downtown stoplight needs to be improved, and encouraged commissioners to think about American with Disabilities Act regulations, as well.
Riley said it might make sense for the city to construct an ADA accessible restroom facility near the Sitka Community Playground, which she noted is Sitka’s only ADA accessible playground.
Other recommendations included adding benches, directional signs, phone charging stations, and trash cans in public places.
The next meeting on the infrastructure and future needs portion of the plan will be Nov. 17. Email planning@cityofsitka.com to submit written comments or receive notice about upcoming meetings.
